NC state employee pleads guilty in $100K SNAP fraud scheme

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A North Carolina state employee in Wayne County has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $100,000 in federal food assistance benefits, according to federal prosecutors.

Deshaune White, 24, pleaded guilty to theft of government property and faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a forfeiture money judgment of $102,000 when sentenced later this year.

Prosecutors say White, who worked as a caseworker with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Social Services, used his position to access SNAP accounts and steal funds between June 2022 and January 2024.

Authorities say White unlawfully accessed accounts belonging to qualified recipients and diverted approximately $102,000 in benefits for personal use.

“What a shocking abuse of trust for a state employee to steal taxpayer money from hurting families,” U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said in a statement.